That One Look

That one look,
Was so different;
From all the earlier times,
Their eyes had met.

This look - was not of love;
Love that brought them closer,
Had vanished in thin air.

This look - was not of care;
The bond of care and affection,
Had suddenly lost traction.

This look - was not of guidance;
The direction she sought,
Was now pointing to a dead end.

This look - was not of support;
The reassuring comfort,
Had flipped into a disheartening crush.

This look - was not of anger;
The rightful anger and understanding,
Had lost way to distrust and disdain.

It was just a stare,
A blank stare;
Difficult to comprehend;
And she kept wondering,
Were there words to be read?

Beyond Comprehension

Some wounds don't hurt,
Some wounds don't bleed;
Some wounds don't look,
As they would heal.

They just reside,
Somewhere deep inside;
Corroding your happiness,
Even though, out of sight.

Like shards of glass,
They cut and pierce;
Tearing apart the joy,
And peace, that was there.

Neither you, nor the world sees why,
The hollow that is created inside;
The pain is beyond comprehension,
What oozes out, is only a fraction.

Pellets They Throw

They question when you do good,
Doubting the intention with which you stood;
The lamp you were holding to show light,
Is mistaken as devastating missile.

The dirt in your hands,
That was clinging while cleaning;
Is scornfully seen as,
Maligned interests of ruining.

Every step forward you take,
Threatens them;
And, pellets they throw,
To keep you away.

Insecure hearts like these,
Should know, humans are no one's property;
You might put tags to claim your rights,
But, love and care is beyond those boundaries.

अश्कों की सौग़ात

उम्मीदों का कत्ले-आम ,
मुहब्बत का जनाज़ा ,
दर्द का पैग़ाम ,
बेशक़ीमती तोहफ़ों की यह खान  … 

अश्कों की सौग़ात ,
दे गये वो अल्फ़ाज़ ,
जिनसे हमारी धड़कन ,
कभी मिलाती थी साज़  … 

Final Goodbye

Its the eternal verity,
The ultimate truth;
All others are just,
Hoodwinks to amuse.

It greets us all,
But only once;
When, as guest of honour,
Our name is pronounced.

When and how,
It decides to pay a visit,
Is beyond all measures,
Of predictability.

Some face it with a smile,
Some run away for a while;
One welcomes or not,
It thrashes all doors and comes inside.

Face to face with it,
I wonder how one feels;
That moment of truth,
What a peril it seems.

The wishes, the memories,
The guilt, the remorses,
The anger, the envy,
All evaporate in a jiffy.

Life bids a final goodbye,
As death engulfs its prey.